Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973–1976

154. Telegram 5606 From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State, April 29, 1976, 0400Z.¹ ²

April 29, 1976, 0400Z

TELEGRAM
Department of State
JAKARTA 5606

R 290400Z APR 76

FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4123

JAKARTA 5606

FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY HABIB

E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: MASS, EAID, PINS, PT, IN

SUBJECT: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY - TIMOR
REF: STATE 101116

1. IT IS NEITHER CORRECT NOR FAIR TO INDONESIANS TO SUGGEST, AS IMPLIED IN LETTER FROM SENATOR HUMPHREY, THAT OUR REPRESENTATIONS TO THEM ON THE USE OF U.S. ARMS IN TIMOR HAVE BEEN IGNORED.

2. FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH SENIOR INDONESIAN OFFICIALS IT IS CLEAR THAT AWARENESS OF RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF U.S. EQUIPMENT WAS SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN DELAYING DECISION TO SUPPORT MILITARY ACTION IN TIMOR. WHEN INDONESIANS CONCLUDED THEY HAD NO CHOICE, THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED MAKE MINIMUM USE OF U.S. EQUIPMENT. DESPITE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN USING EQUIPMENT OF OTHER ORIGINS, INCLUDING OLD YUGOSLOV WEAPONS, SUCH EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN BACKBONE OF THEIR EFFORT. I BELIEVE GENERAL MURDANI WAS SINCERE WHEN HE TOLD ME RECENTLY EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE WITHDRAW U.S. EQUIPMENT AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE.

3. IF ISSUE ARISES AGAIN IN CONTACTS WITH CONGRESS, SUGGEST WE SAY THAT INDONESIANS CLEARLY AWARE OF U.S. LAW AND HAVE DEPENDED LARGELY ON EQUIPMENT OF OTHER NATIONAL ORIGINS SEEKING MINIMIZE USE OF ITEMS PROVIDED BY U.S.

NEWSOM

1. Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Exdis. Telegram 101116 to the Secretary’s Delegation, April 30, provided the text of an April 14 letter from Senators Humphrey and Case stating that USG representations to the GOI had apparently been ignored.
2. The Embassy gave a brief overview on Indonesian use of U.S. arms in Timor.